Feeding mechanism for automatic firearm



H. H. FRIEND ETA]. 2,821,886

FEEDING MECHANISM FOR-AUTOMATIC FIREARM Filed April 5, 1954 Feb. 4, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 A TTDRNE Y5 Feb. 4, 1958 H. H. FRIEND ETAL FEEDING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC FIREARM 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 5, 1954 INVENTORS H ETi and Wm m E Ema H TTDENEYS Feb. 4, 1958 H. H. FRIEND EI'AL 2,821,886

FEEDING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC FIREARM Filed April 5, 1954 shei s she'et 3 ATTOENE Y5 Feb. 4, 1958 H. H. FRIEND ETAL 2,821,886

FEEDING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC FIREARM Filed April 5, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 iii iffifi' INVENTORS H1: rvlgy H Fr i and:

A7 TTOENEYS Feb. 4', 1958 H. H. FRIEND EI'AL 2,821,886

v FEEDING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC FIREARM Filed April 5, 1954 I 5 sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS Hurve' y H Frie n c[ RTTORNE Y3 FEEDING MECHANISM FOR 'AnroMAnc FIREARM Harvey 11. Friend, Hamden, and Carl F. Liedke, North Haven, Conn., assignors to the United tates of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army Application April 5, 1954, Serial No. 421,207

' 9 Claims. (Cl. 89-33 "This invention relates to feeding mechanisms for auto- *matic firearms in which the cartridges are fed by a linked belt and is more particularly directed to feeding mechanisms adapted to receive the cartridge belt from either theright or left side of the firearm.

It is the object of this invention to provide an alternate feed mechanism whereby the operator may feed the cartridge belt from either the right or left side of the firearm without changing or moving any parts thereof.

1 I It is another object of this invention to provide an alternate feed mechanism having a ruggedness of construction and a simplicity of parts.

It is a specific object of this invention to provide in a feeding mechanism a slidable link stripper and ejection guide member which is movable into one of two alternate positions by the initial cartridge in the cartridge belt when the direction of feeding is changed.

1 It is another specific object of this invention to provide a feeding mechanism of opposed rack and pinion type with the pinion actuated by a bolt pivoted feed lever.

The specific nature of the invention as well as other objects and advantages thereof will clearly appear from 21 description of a preferred embodiment as shown in ,the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a right side view of the rear end of the firearm;

Fig. 2 is a view along line 22 of Fig. 1 showing the feed pawls in retracted cartridge pick-up positions;

Fig. 3 is the same as Fig. 2 but showing the feed pawls in contingent cartridge indexing positions; Fig. 4 is a bottom view of the cover with the feed pawls .in the retracted cartridge pick-up positions;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the rear end of the bolt;

@Fig. 6 is a side view of the feeding mechanism partly in cross-section;

sides of the feedway;

Fig. 9 is a bottom view of the stripper member; Fig. 10 is a view along line 10-10 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 11 is a perspective exploded view of the feeding mechanism; and i Fig. 12 is an enlarged view taken along line 12-12 of Fig. 7. Shown in the figures is a receiver 12 having a bolt 13 slidably mounted for longitudinal movement therein. Provided on the top side of bolt 13 is an upstanding rammer portion 14, longitudinally aligned with the bore of a firearm barrel 15, and an upstanding cylindrical lug 16 fixed to the left rear portion of such bolt. Pivotally mounted to the front end of receiver 12, as by a pin 17, is a cover 18 arranged to enclose the top side of the receiver and a feedway 19 positioned in the front top ,portion .of the receiver.

Feedway 19 is formed by a basal slideway 20 and a frontand a rear upstanding wall 21 and 22, respectively,

atent O which are spaced to permit guided passage of a longitudinally disposed cartridge 23 therebetween. Walls 21 and 22 extend beyond both ends of slideway 20 with car portions 24 depending from such extending portions and rotatably mounted on each side of slideway 18 between such ear portions is a longitudinally disposed roller 25 contoured to fully support the cartridges 23, which are joined by open type links 26 to form a disintegrating type cartridge belt 27, during movement thereof to slideway 20. Slideway 20 is bisected by a longitudinal egress 28 which is aligned with the bore of barrel 15. Egress 28 is traversed at right angles by a channel 29 which is dovetailed to receive a mating portion 30 on the underside of a stripper member 31 so as to permit slidable movement thereof between one of two alternate positions, and such channel is spaced from rear wall 22 so as to permit the ejection of a stripped cartridge link 26 between such wall and stripper 31.

The walls of egress 28 forwardly of channel 29, noted at 32, are sufliciently spaced to permit cartridge 23 to pass therebetween into the interior of receiver 12 when moved by rammer 14 to the chamber of barrel 15. A semi-cylindrical portal 33 extends upwardly into front wall 21 from the front ends of walls 32 and a forwardly and downwardly extending ramp 34 extends forwardly therefrom to aid in depressing cartridge 23 into barrel 15. The walls of egress 28, rearwardly of channel 29, noted at 35, are sufficiently spaced to permit passage of rammer 14 therethrough to engage the rear end of the indexed cartridge.23 yet narrow enough to prevent the cartridge passing therethrough. A portal 36 extends upwardly into rear wall 22 from the rear ends of walls to permit passage of rammer 14. The walls 35 are connected to wider spaced walls 32 by a cam portion 37 which also connects with the adjacent wall of channel 29.

Stripper 31 is substantially of rectangular cross-section and is arranged to extend from one of the walls 35 to approximately the adjacent one of the rollers 25. Provided in each end of the bottom side of the dovetailed portion 30 is a lateral groove 38 which extends inwardly from the ends thereof and which is arranged to slidably receive a pin 39 extending upwardly in each end of channel 29. Pins 39 and grooves 38 are arranged so that stripper 31 is movable in channel 29 from one side of egress 28 to the other and so that when one of the pins engages the end of the cooperating groove one end of the stripper is approximately flush with the adjacent one of the walls 35 to engageably restrain cartridge link 26 while cartridge 23 is being stripped therefrom. The front portion of the top side of stripper 31 and the ends thereof are beveled, as shown at 48 and 41, respectively. Extending angularly from beveled portion 40 to the rear side of dovetailed portion 30 is a spring-biased detent 42 which is resiliently receivable by one of a pair of notches 43 in the rear wall of channel 29 to assist in indexing stripper 31 in one of the two alternate positions in the channel and in restraining such stripper in the selected position.

Cover 18 is arranged to arch over feedway 19 and provided in the underside of such arch portion above the rear portion of slideway 20 is an inverted, laterally disposed rectangular channel 45, the top side of which is parallel with such slideway. Depending from the top side of channel 45, and centrally disposed therein, is a hollow cylindrical shaft 46 around the top portion of which there is provided a collar portion 47.

Mounted for slidable lateral movement in channel is a pair of carrier members 49 which are substantially of rectangular cross-section. Carriers 49 are provided with lateral tenon portions 50 along the front and rear sides thereof which are slidably received by mating grooves 51 along the front and rear walls of channel are essentiallycircular in cross-section.

therewith. Rotatably mounted on shaft 46 within cylinder 54 and bearing on collar 47, is a pinion 55 having an arm portion 56 extending from the bottom side thereof. A spring ring 59 cooperates with a suitable groove on shaft 46 to secure pinion 55 thereon. Arranged on opposite sides of pinion 55 for cooperation therewith is a-pair of laterally disposed racks 57 which The racks 57 are fixedlysecured to opposite ones of the carriers 49 and are slidablyreceived on cylindrical passageways in the other whereby rotation of pinion 55 by arm portion 56 moves the carriers 4? simultaneously in opposite directions.

Pivotally mounted to each one ofycarriers 49 is a spring-biased feedpawl 60 which is provided with a pair of depending longitudinally spaced cartridge gripper portions 61 and is arranged to feed the leading cartridge 23 in cartridge belt 27 to egress 23. The front ones of the gripper portions 61 are in alignment with stripper 31 and are so arranged that the free one of feed pawls 60 is cammed by beveled portions 41 onto the top surface of the stripper when moving away from closed cartridge indexing position whereby the feed pawl is moved upwardly out of the way of the ejected cartridge link 26. A pair of cooperating spring-biased holding pawls 62 are pivotally mounted to opposite sides of cover 18 and are arranged to hold the cartridge belt 27 during retraction of feed pawl 60 to pick up the leading cartridge 23 by holding a following cartridge 23 in the cartridge belt. A disconnector lever 63 is pivotally mounted on each side of cover 18 so as to be readily accessible to the operator and is adapted to depress the associate holding pawls 62 for release of the cartridge belt 27 when withdrawal thereof is desired.

Provided on the underside of cover 18, forwardly of channel 45 and receivable within feedway 19, is a lateral boss portion 64. Boss 64 is provided with alongitudinal centrally located slot 65 arranged to receive the front end of a depressor member 66, and a lateral bore 67 which receives a pin 68 arranged to pivotally mount the depressor. An angular surface 69 on the top side of depressor 66, where received by slot 65, is arranged to cooperate with a mating surface 753 on the top side of slot 65 to limit the downward movement of the depressor but permit upward swing thereof.

Depressor 66 extends rearwardly, approximately to rear wall 22 of feedway 19, and is aligned with egress 28.

Recesses 71 are provided in the sides of depressor 66 to receive the front ones of the grippers 61 when carriers 49 are in closed position and the bottom side of the depressor rearwardly of recesses 71 is provided with a shallow longitudinal depression 72 shaped to the contour of cartridge 23. As has hereinbefore been explained, shaft 46 is hollow, as noted at '73 and received therein is a coiled spring 74 and a rod 75 which is biased by the spring against the top side of depressor 66.

The forward end of depressor 66 is bifurcated by a slot 44 and a channel 48 extends rearwardly therefrom to depression portion 72. Mounted in slot 44 for pivotal movement on pin 68 is a link retainer member 85 which extends rearwardly along channel 48 to engage indexed cartridge link 26 and assist stripper 31 in holding the link when cartridge 23 is stripped therefrom. A fiat portion.91 ;is arranged on the top side of link retainer 85 to engageably cooperate with surface 70 in limiting downward movement of the link retainer. Link eta f .8 shel resil en vi a .d ar -r fiq by, a spring 22. Spring 92Iis anchoredat the rear end b th inser ig lh9 i 1.1 291 9 ,i 2ls.tte t and passes forwardly between the retainer and depressor 66 forming a resilient arch therebetween. The front end of spring 92 is resiliently received by an annular groove 94 in pin 68 to provide detent means therefor.

Depending from the rear portion of cover 18 is a centrally located stud 76 provided with anannulargroove 77. Mounted for pivotal movement on stud 76 is an arcuately formed lever 78 which extends forwar dly to cooperate with arm 56 as hereina fter explained. Ihe rear portion of lever 73 .is offset, as notedat 7759,;531'1d provided vertically therethrough is a bore .80 arranged to rotatably receive stud 76. A hole 81 intersects bore 81 so that a pin 82 pressed therein .is received by groove 77 to rotatably secure lever 78 to stud 76. Extending along lever 78 is a cam groove 83 of predetermined contour which is arranged to receive lug 16 on the; top side of bolt 13 whereby reciprocation of thebolt pauses rotation of. the lever about stud 76. PrOYidQdil'llljlfi rear end of lever 78, opposite bore 80, isa, forwardly extending hole 84- which receives a coiled spring 86 and a rod 87 which is biased by the spring .against a vertical surface 83 on the underside of cover 1 8,.whereby lever 78 is resiliently biased to the cartridge indexing position to assure engagement of lug 16 with cam vgroove '83 when cover 18 is closed and bolt 13 is secured in recoil position. Arranged on the top side of the forward portion of lever 78 is a groove 89 which slidably receives a lug 96 depending from the bottom side of arm 56, whereby rotation of the lever bybolt 13 causes rotation of pinion 55. I

Operation With the firearm selected to embody the feeding mechanism of the present invention, cartridge belt .27 is preferably introduced into feedway 19 when bolt13 is secured in recoil position. Further, feeding inthe present embodiment is arranged to be etfectedduring the recoil portion of the cycle to provide a strongerbelt pull. Therefore, bolt 13 is secured in reco il po sition when cartridge belt 27 is initially inserted'into either the right or the left side of feedway 19. Cartridge'beh 27 is then pushed past the holding pawl '62 and the feed pawl 60 on that side, which are moved resiliently downward by cartridges 23 passing thereby and spring into place in back thereof, until the leading cartridge engages 'the gripper portions 61 of the feed pawl on the OPPQSite side and the end of stripper 31. As feeding is ar'ranged in the present embodiment to be effected during the recoil stroke of the operating cycle, when-b01613 is in recoil position, carriers 49 are in contiguous relationship. Consequently, when stopped, leading cartridge 23 is engaged between the opposing gripper portions 61 of the feed pawls 60 and is indexed between egress 28 and depressor 66 with the depressor resiliently holding the cartridge indexed in the egress when the feed pawls move away therefrom to pick up another cartridge.

When the firearm is actuated for firing, bolt 13 is released to go forwardly to battery position with rammer 14 thereon engaging the rear end of the indexed cartridge 23. As cartridge link 26 is of push-through type, rammer 14 passes through a suitable opening therein to push cartridge 23 forwardly With the adjacent end of stripper 31 and vthe rear end of link retainer 85 engageably holding the cartridge link. During forward movement of cartridge 23, the nose thereof engages ramp 34 to be depressed downwardly, causing the cartridge to pivot on cam portions 37. It is obvious that as the nose ofcartridge 23 pivots downwardly, the base thereof rnoves upwardly. The upward movement of the base of cartridge 23 biases depressor 66 upwardly to maintain resilient alignment with thecartridgewithshallow depression 72 in the depressor aiding in controlling the movementof the' cartridge while being rammed downwardly there? along to the chamber of barrel 15.

In the meantime, while bolt 13 was moving forwardly, lug 16 thereon was moving along cam groove 83 eifecting rotation of lever 78. As'has been explained, lever 78 is slidably engaged with arm portion 56 of pinion 58 so the rotation of the lever rotated the pinion which, through cooperation with racks 57, moved the carriers 49 away from each other in channel 45. During the diverging movement of carriers 49, gripper portions 61 of the feed pawl 60 on the side feeding cartridge belt 27, rode over the following cartridge and was biased downwardly in back thereof ready to pull the cartridge belt into the firearm and index the leading one of the cartridges therein during the following feeding stroke. At the same time, holding pawl 62 was conventionally holding the cartridge belt from falling out of the firearm. Also, the forward gripper portion 61 on the free feed pawl 60 was cammed by bevel portion 41 onto the top side of stripper 31 to move the feed pawl out of the way of the disengaged cartridge link 26 while being ejected during the following feed portion of the operation cycle.

When the chambered cartridge 23 is fired and bolt 13 recoils, lever 78 is counterrotated thereby, to eflect rotation of pinion 55 which moves feed pawls 60 together. The converging movements of feed pawls 60 cause the now leading cartridge 23 to be drawn into indexing position between egress 28 and depressor 66 by gripper portion 61 of the working feed pawl 60 with gripper portion 61 on the opposite feed pawl 60 aiding, as has been explained, in positioning the cartridge at the completion of the converging movements. It is obvious that as leading cartridge 23 is being advanced to indexing position, the disengaged cartridge link 26 is ejected thereby along slideway between stripper 31 and rear wall 22 and out of feedway 19.

If the operator wishes to change the direction of feeding, he actuates disconnector lever 63 to disconnect the associated holding pawls 62 from cartridge belt 27, permitting withdrawal thereof from the firearm. Cartridge belt 27 is then introduced into the opposite side of feedway 19. It is obvious that stripper 31 must be moved to the opposite side of egress 28 with the changing of the feed. This is accomplished, without the operator having to separately move any part, by the initial cartridge 23 in cartridge belt 27 moving the stripper 31 ahead thereof when pushed into indexed position. The reception of detent 42 by the cooperating groove 43 maintains stripper 31 in position.

It is obvious that there is here provided a novel alternate feed mechanism which permits quick and easy change of feed and is .simple and rugged in construction.

Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been described in detail herein, it is evident that many variations may be devised within the spirit and scope thereof and the following claims are intended to include such variations.

We claim:

1. In a firearm having a receiver and a feedway with an egress for the passage of cartridges from the feedway into the receiver, a feeding mechanism for feeding a cartridge belt from either side of the firearm along the feedway to the egress including ways in the feedway normal to the longitudinal axis of'the firearm, oppositely disposed carriers mounted on said ways for reciprocable movement between the egress and the respective ends of said feedway, pawl means mounted on said carriers for moving the leading cartridge in the cartridge belt from the end of the feedway adjacent thereto to the egress, and rack and pinion means for moving said carriers simultaneously in opposite directions whereby when one of said pawl means carries said leading cartridge to the egress the other one of said pawl means moves thereto to jointly engage said leading cartridge for alignment with the egress.

2. In afirearm, a feeding mechanism including a feedway arranged for the entrance of a cartridge belt thereinto from either the right or the left side of the firearm, said cartridge belt being comprised of a plurality of joined cartridges and links separable by said cartridges being pushed therethrough, a longitudinal egress bisecting said feedway, a pair of feed pawls reciprocably mounted in said feedway on opposite sides of said egress and adapted to selectively feed said cartridge belt from either side of said feedway to said egress, means for converging said feed pawls to spaced positions over said egress to index said leading cartridge between said feed pawls over said egress, a stripper member slidably mounted in said feed way for movement from one side of said egress to the other by said leading cartridge during initial installation or said cartridge belt into said feedway when the direction of feeding is alternated, end portions on said stripper member engageable by said leading cartridge to assist inindexing said leading cartridge over said egress,

and a rear side on said stripper member to engage the leading one of said links while said leading cartridge is stripped therefrom and to guide said leading link out of said feedway after said leading cartridge is stripped therefrom.

3. In a firearm having a reciprocable bolt with a cartridge rammer, a feeding mechanism including a feedway blsected by a longitudinal egress, a pair of reciprocable feed pawl carriers, a rack and pinion means for simultaneously moving said carriers in opposite directions, a feed pawl pivotally mounted on each of said carriers so as to selectively feed a belt comprised of cartridges joined by separable links to said egress from either side of said feedway and when converging to index the leading one of said cartridges in said belt over said egress, a pair of aligned dovetailed channels arranged in said feedway on opposite sides of said egress and at right angles thereto, a stripper member mounted for slidable movement between said channels by dovetail means, said stripper being engageable by said belt for movement to the opposite side of said egress when the direction of feed is changed, a groove in each end of said stripper cooperable with a vertical pin in each of said channels for indexing said stripper in position on opposite sides of said egress so as to be engageable by the leadng one of said cartridges in said belt when over said egress to assist in indexing said leading cartridge, and a rear side on said stripper to engageably restrain the leading one of said links while the bolt strips said leading cartridge therefrom and to guide the stripped link from said feedway.

4. In a firearm having a receiver and a bolt reciprocable therein, a feeding mechanism including a feedway bisected by an egress for passage of a cartridge from said feedway to the receiver, a pair of feed pawls reciprocably mounted in said feedway on opposite sides of said egress and adapted to carry said cartridges linked to form a belt from the adjacent sides of said feedway to said egress, a rack and pinion means for simultaneously moving said feed pawls in opposite directions to selectively feed said cartridges to said egress from opposite sides of said feedway and to index the leading one of said cartridges therebetween over said egress, aligned dovetailed channels arranged in said feedway on opposite sides of said egress and at right angles thereto, a stripper member provided with a dovetail portion receivable in said channels for slidable movement from one side of said egress to the other, a groove in each end of said dovetail portion cooperable with a vertical pin in each of said channels to index said stripper on either side of said egress in a position to restrainably engage said leading cartridge when over said egress and to restrainably engage the leading one of said links while said leading cartridge is stripped therefrom by the bolt, a spring-biased detent in said stripper receivable by a notch provided in one side of each of said channels for resiliently restraining said stripper in one of said positions, and said stripper being engageable 7 b aid leading cartridge for movement to the opposite one of said positions during initial installation of said belt in said feedway when the direction offeed is alternated.

5. In a firearm having a receiver and a bolt reciprocable therein, a feeding mechanism including a feedway arranged for the entrance of a cartridge belt thereinto from either the right or the left side of the firearm, said cartridge belt being comprised of a plurality of joined cartridges and links separable by said cartridges being pushed therethrough, a longitudinal egress bisecting said feedway for passage of said cartridges from said feedway to the receiver, two laterally disposed feed pawls mounted on opposite sides of said egress for reciprocable movement'between divergent cartridge pick-up positions adjacent said entrances and convergent cartridge indexing positions adjacent said egress for selectively feeding said cartridge belt from either side of said feedway to said egress and for indexing the leading cartridge in said cartridge belt therebetween over said egress while converging to said indexing position, means for resiliently maintaining said leading cartridge in said indexing position and for guiding said leading cartridge through said egress, rammer means on the bolt for stripping said leading cartridge from said cartridge belt and moving said cartridge through said egress, aligned dovetailed channels arranged in said feedway on opposite sides of said egress and at right angles thereto, a stripper member mounted for slidable movement in said channels and being movable by said leading cartridge from a position on one side of said egress to an alternate position on the other during initial installation of said cartridge belt in said feedway when direction of feed is alternated, end portions on said stripper member engageable by said leading cartridge when over said egress, and a rear side on said stripper for engageably restraining said link while said leading cartridge is stripped therefrom and for guiding the stripped link out of said feedway.

6. In a firearm having a receiver, a bolt reciprocable therein and a barrel provided with a cartridge chamber, a feeding mechanism including a feedway with entrances for a cartridge belt thereinto from either the right or the .left side of the firearm, said cartridge belt being comprised of a plurality of joined cartridges and links separable by said cartridges being pushed therethrough, a longitudinal egress bisecting said feedway for passage of cartridges from said feedway to the receiver, two laterallydisposedfeed pawl carriers mounted on opposite sides of said egress for reciprocable rnovementbetween divergent cartridge pick-up positions adjacent said entrances and convergent indexing positions adjacent said egress,,a feed pawl pivotally mounted on each of said carriers and arranged to engage said belt for feeding the leading cartridge therein to said egress and be spaced apart over said egress when said carriers are in said indexing positions to cooperate in indexing said leading cartridge over said egress, pinionand rack means-for simultaneously moving said feed pawls in opposite directions, lever meansfor actuating said pinion, a cam groove in said lever means engageable by a lug means on the bolt and having a contour whereby reciprocation of the bolt actuates said pinion and rack means, means'for resiliently maintaining said cartridge in said indexing position and for guiding said cartridge during movement thereof through said egress, rammer means on the bolt 'for stripping said leading cartridge from said cartridge belt and moving said cartridge through said egress, means associated with said egress for inclining said cartridge towards the chamber of the barrel, aligned dovetailed channels arranged in said feedway on opposite sides of said egress and at right angles thereto, a stripper member mounted for slidable movement insaid channels and being movable by said leading cartridge from one side of said egress to the other during -init-ial. installationof said cartridge-belt in said feedway when-the direction offeedis alternated, end-portions on u said-'stripp'ermemberengageable by said leading cartridge to assist in stopping thereof in indexed position, and a rear sideonsaid stripper member to engageably restrain said link while said leading cartridge is stripped therefrom and to guide the-stripped link out of said feedway.

egress and for indexing the leading cartridge in said cartridge belt over said egress, a stripper member movable from'one side of'said egress to the other by said leading cartridge during initial installation of said feed belt into said feedway when the direction of feeding is alternated, said stripper member being engageable by said leading cartridge when indexed over said egress, a rear side on said stripper member to restrainably engage theleading one of said links while said leading cartridge is stripped therefrom and to provide a guide for said stripped link out of said feedway, and a link retainer pivotally mounted above said egress for resilient engagementwith the front end of said leading link to assist said stripper member in holding said link while said leading cartridge is stripped therefrom.

8. in a firearm, a feeding mechanism including a feedway having entrances for the passage of a cartridge belt thereinto from either the right or the left side of the firearm, said cartridge belt being comprised of a plurality of joined cartridges and links separable by said cartridges being pushed therethrough, a longitudinal egress bisecting said feedway, a pair of slidably mounted feed pawls for selectively feeding said cartridge belt from either one of said entrances to said egress, means for moving said feed pawls simultaneously in opposite directions for indexing the leading cartridge in said cartridge belt therebetween over said egress, a stripper member movable from one side of said egress to the other by said leading cartridge during initial installation of said cartridge belt through one of said entrances into said feedway when the direction of feeding is alternated, said stripper member being disposed for restrictive engagement by said leading cartridge when indexed over said egress and by the leading one of said links while said leading cartridge is stripped therefrom, a front side on the stripper member for-guiding said stripped link out of said feedway, a pivotal depressor having an arcuate depression disposed longit udinally therealong for resiliently holding said leading cartridge over said egress after being delivered thereto by one of said feed pawls and for guiding said cartridge through said egress, and a link retainer pivotally mounted in cooperation with said depressor so as to resiliently engage the front end of said leading link and assist said stripper in holding said leading link while said leading cartridge is stripped therefrom.

9. In a firearm having a receiver and a bolt reciprocable therein, a feeding mechanism including a feedway having entrances for the passage of a cartridge belt into said feedwayfrom either the right or the left side of the firearm, said cartridge belt being comprised of a plurality of joined cartridges and links separable by said cartridges being pushed therethrough, a longitudinal egress bisecting said feedway for passage of said cartridgesfrom said feedway to the receiver, two laterally disposed feed pawls slidably mounted in said feedway on opposite sides of said egress for opposing reciprocation between divergent cartridge pick-up positions adjacent said entrances and convergent cartridge indexing positions adjacent said-egress, said feed pawls being arranged to selectively feed-said cartridge belt from either side of said feedway to said egress and when in said convergent positions to cooperate by jointly engaging the leading one of said cartridges in said cartridge belt therebetween when over said egress, a depressor pivotally mounted on a pin disposed transversely of said egress for resiliently maintaining said cartridge in an index position over said egress and having a longitudinal arcuate depression for guiding said cartridge during movement thereof through said egress, a link retainer pivotally mounted on said pin for engageably restraining the leading one of said links when said cartridge is stripped therefrom, spring means for simultaneously biasing said link retainer into link engagement position and securing said pin against displacement, rammer means on the bolt for stripping said leading cartridge from said cartridge belt and moving said cartridge through said egress, aligned dovetailed channels arranged in said feedway on opposite sides of said egress and at right angles thereto, a stripper member slidably mounted in said channels for movement by said leading cartridge from one side of said egress to the other when the direction of feed is alternated, end portions on said stripper member restrainably engageable by said leading cartridge when in indeXed position, and a rear side on said stripper member engageable by said leading link to assist said link retainer in restraining said leading link while said leading cartridge is stripped therefrom and to provide a guide for the stripped link during passage thereof out of said feedway.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,920,984 Howard Aug. 28, 1933 2,453,977 Eames Nov. 16, 1948 2,486,878 Rataiczak Nov. 1, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 897,534 France Mar. 23, 1945 

